Stress Management and Trauma Resolution

How Stress and Trauma Impact Health

Having trouble managing stress? Or have you experienced overwhelming events that have left you feeling exhausted? Recent statistics on the effects of stress on health should make us stop and take notice of the stress we carry day-to-day which affects our health and sense of well-being.

U. S. Stress Statistics claim that:

77 % regularly experience physical symptoms caused by stress

73% regularly experience psychological symptoms caused by stress

33% claim they are living with extreme stress

48% say their stress has increased over the past five years

The National Institute of Mental Health lists these health-related responses to stress:

digestive problems

headaches

sleep problems

lowered immunity

anger

irritability

heart disease

diabetes

depression

anxiety

Traumatic events can also impact our health and sense of well-being if one’s physiological response to the event(s) is not contained. Trauma is defined as any overwhelming event that is deeply disturbing and distressing. Such experiences can deplete our body and mind of its innate resources needed to cope.

In addition to acupuncture, herbs, phytonutrients and biotherapeutic drainage protocols to reduce the stress load on your body, our office also offers a system of stress management and trauma resolution known as Somatic Experiencing®.

What is Somatic Experiencing®?

Somatic Experiencing® Therapy (SE) is naturalistic approach to stress management and trauma resolution that helps you to become more resilient. Resiliency supports long-term health because it helps the body regain a sense of balance known as homeostasis. Developed by Peter Levine, it has proven helpful to manage everyday stress as well as the effects of accumulated stress and even stress related to traumatic events.

SE works in two ways. The first is to help you recognize your body’s response to stress and the second way is through the cultivation of self-regulatory skills. Adequate coping skills build resilience to stress and help us reduce or eliminate long-term effects of stressful states of fight or flight on the body.

Did you known that in times of stress or challenge, we unconsciously use tension to “brace” ourselves to face the task ahead? Unfortunately, after the challenge is over, most of us forget to let go of those muscular patterns which can lead to chronic hypersensitivity, over-reaction, aches and pains, a reduced capacity to cope, and lowered vitality.